This concerns the editorial "Keep Algebra II" in the March 19 Enterprise. I have taught and tutored high-school math for a number of years. My sense, as a rule of thumb, is that students with IQ much less than 90 will have a very difficult time comprehending Algebra I, let alone Algebra II. Typical Algebra II problems are far beyond their capability. I have taught a "fundamental" Algebra I course, where I had to water down the material so much that it could hardly be called Algebra.

Many students are not suited to traditional mathematics and not suited to college. They would be much better served if we offered the courses that they could really use, like consumer math and business math, rather than trying to teach them algebra, an essentially hopeless effort that merely has the effect of frustrating them and, in integrated classrooms, slowing the progress of the students capable of mastering the subject.

Dennis Vail, Beaumont

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HELP IS THERE FOR THOSE IN NEED

I saw your story and editorial on frivolous 911 calls. I'm sure it happens all the time.

I wanted to let you know that if a person is having severe emotional distress or a mental health crisis, 911 is an option, but they can also call the Spindletop Center's Crisis Line at (800) 937-8097. We are available 24-7, even in the event of a disaster evacuation.

If a person wants to know about public services that are available, 211 is an invaluable resource, as they have information on almost every service, shelter, food bank or government assistance program in the region.

However, if you want to know who won the World Series in a given year, the Internet is a wonderful resource, created by very smart people. ;-)

The reason is simple. I am old enough to remember the Watts riots. In the Watts riots, people were pulled out of their cars and beaten to death with 1-by-4 clubs, and robbed. A female news reporter was assaulted, all on television.

These crimes were done by mobs. The police could do nothing for three days; stores were looted and burned to the ground. Only when the National Guard arrived, the riots was stopped.

This is why people want AR-15s, etc. In the future, if we have food riots, looting, robbery again, the law-abiding people must have weapons that will protect their families from the mobs that follow.